"Needed parts for a drum project. Found them here at a very good price. Excellent deal, Excellent quality"

"I had new edges cut in my vintage Rogers kit and they turned out AMAIZING. Cant wait to hear them. Thanks!"

"Got the snare drum shell... I was so glad to have you guys do the edges and snare beds for me. The drum shell is simply outstanding through and through! The rings are solid, the bearing edges are as smooth as can be."

"You guys always provide with immediate, and helpful advice to me every time I need it. That helps me out a lot being a new drum builder"

"Wonderful job on the cocktail drum you built for me. It's beautiful and sounds incredible. Your staff always does a wonderful job."

"I am truly impressed & satisfied with my new snare!... looks beautiful, but the sound is exactly what I wanted!"

"Just great as usual. You can see your clips and tube lugs in action on Anton Fig's kit on the Letterman show. He broke a few parts and you helped save the day."

"Note to say thank you-the Spurs fit perfectly. Thank you do much for the great customer service. "

Superior bearing edge choices

DrumMaker Bearing Edge #1: "Standard" Single 45 most popular

Inner bevel is hand cut to a 45 degree angle with outer "contact zone" being gently eased by hand sanding. The small 1ply head to shell contact zone lets the head sing, which allows for very easy tuning.

Single cut "simple" edge

Best for thinner 6ply shells.

Easy to tune. Great for 2ply heads

Bright, defined attack & nice sustain

Least body due to small 1ply contact zone

DrumMaker Bearing Edge #2: "West Coast" Dual 45

Inner and outer bevels are hand cut to a 45 degree angles. The greater 2-3ply head to shell contact zone allows for a little more tonality from the shell, with controlled volume.

Double cut "compound" edge

Slightly less volume

Less attack & sustain

Medium body due to 2ply contact zone

Not available on thin 6ply shells.

DrumMaker Bearing Edge #3: "Extreme" Dual 60 snare drums only

Inner bevel is hand cut to a 45 degree angle with outer "contact zone" being gently eased by hand sanding. The small 1ply head to shell contact zone lets the head sing, which allows for very easy tuning.

Double cut "compound" edge

Slightly more attack & sustain

more body due to increased contact zone

Best for snare drums where higher tensioned

Not reccomended for tom/bass drums

Not available on thin 6ply shells.

DrumMaker Bearing Edge #4: "Vintage" 30 Roundover

Inner bevel is hand cut to a 30 degree angle with outer "contact zone" bevel cut to a small radius roundover. The large head to shell contact zone gives the most body possible, with minimal attack, sustain and volume. Fans of vintage drum tone will love this edge.

Basic layout for standard parts on a wood drum. SIMPLE CENTER LINES MARKED ONLY. NO DRILLING INCLUDED.
You can place the final marks your chosen parts and drill from there. Save $$$ by doing most of the work yourself.

Please give us notes of any needed details about your project in the order comments box during checkout.
Shells & parts are NOT included in this cost.

Layout for OFFSET lugs and extra air vents is available for an additional cost.
We can also work with YOUR SUPPLIED parts by request for an additional cost.

2. Full Layout

Full Layout marked for INLINE lugs

Full Layout marked for one air vent

Snare Drums: Full Layout for strainer/butt

Bass Drums: Full Layout for one of pair spurs

Floor Toms: Full Layout for three leg mounts

Toms: Full Layout for mount, if needed

Full layout for standard parts on a wood drum, using parts that we stock. NO DRILLING INCLUDED.
COMPLETE CROSS MARKINGS ONLY. Ready for you to drill to our precise markings. Save $$ by doing some of the work yourself.

Please give us notes of any needed details about your project in the order comments box during checkout.
Shells & parts are NOT included in this cost.

Layout for OFFSET lugs and extra air vents is available for an additional cost.
We can also work with YOUR SUPPLIED parts by request for an additional cost.

3. Full Layout & Drilling

Layout & Drilling for INLINE lugs

Layout & Drilling for one air vent

Snare Drums: Layout & Drilling for strainer/butt

Bass Drums: Layout & Drilling for one of pair spurs

Floor Toms: Layout & Drilling for three leg mounts

Toms: Layout & Drilling for mount, if needed

Complete layout & drilling for standard parts on a wood drum, using parts that we stock. ALL DRILLING INCLUDED.
Makes a super easy job for you, just bolt on your parts and tune up your new drum!

Please give us notes of any special details about your project in the order comments box during checkout.
Shells & parts are NOT included in this cost.

Layout for OFFSET lugs and extra air vents is available for an additional cost.
We can also work with YOUR SUPPLIED parts by request for an additional cost.

The DrumMaker Craftsman

Since 2005, Rob Kampa has been the hidden talent behind the DrumMaker in-house custom shop. Rob has experience as a research scientist, science teacher, a drummer/instructor and a fine furniture refinisher. He spent a decade of his life working in the field of chemical research and has even taught science. So when it comes to applying scientific method and the principles of materials science, Rob holds valuable knowledge of the critcal underlying factors of wood crafting, finishing, and the physics of sound... basically he knows how to build a great drum.

For some in the drum industry, Rob has "flown under the radar". Having crafted 3000+ snare drums, he is truly an innovative and influential custom drum maker. He has crafted drums for the likes of Blue Man Group, the U.S. Army Ground Forces Jazz Bands, and many metal and country artists. For more than 24 years, Rob has challenged drum making communities around the world to raise the level of excellence.

In 1989, When Rob brought his own "Magstar Drums" onto the scene, there were only a few fledgling custom drum makers searching for new ways of approaching the individualized needs of drummers. Many knew the look and sound they wanted, but couldn't find it amongst the cookie cutter brand-name drum co's of the time. More than a decade before the modern-anything-you-want custom style was born, Rob had begun to experiment with different materials and techniques of bearing edge cutting, wood type and ply-configurations to produce drums with higher sensitivity, projection and response.

Magstar first appeared in Modern Drummer magazine's New and Notable section in 1993. Proving that by utilizing the right tools and craftsmanship, one could embark upon a mission to give the big name drum companies a run for it. The custom drum world was still in very early days and Rob Kampa was one of only a select few paving the way for the craft we know today.

By 1994 Magstar's snare drums were under full review, showing up in MD. A full kit review followed in 1995. This Magstar kit utilized low mass piccolo-type lugs on the toms and bass drum which were powder coated for visual effect and low-maintenance. Both features uncommon before this time.

December 1997, brought another great MD review of Magstar snares. Rob's innovations were soon to inspire be imitated industrywide. Altogether, Magstar has seen 5 very favorable major reviews in Modern Drummer magazine.

"If you have ever had the chance to play one of Rob's creations, you know that he knows how to build a great sounding drum."

In the DrumMaker shop today, Rob is ready to hand craft your drums to any stage of completion, whether it's just prepping your raw shell, re-cutting edges on that vintage snare or creating a full custom kit with multiple steps of hand sanding, custom bearing edges, drilling mounting holes, shaping snare beds, and wrapping with plastic finishes. He maintains his fanatical devotion to the craft of drum making.

The early DrumMaker years

From 1995 to 2004 DrumMaker custom work was done by Bill Von Kamp of Huntsville, AL. Bill was a true craftsman from the old school of drum building, having spent time perfecting his craft at the Corder drum company. After many years in the industry, he was anxious to retire. Many of the original tools, jigs and templates that Bill acquired from the Corder and Fibes drum companies are still utilized by DrumMaker in our shop today. A few include: Our 42" custom belt-drive sanding disk for trueing shells, a special table saw jig for cutting shells to depth, and our high pressure roller used in applying wrap. Tools like these combined with our seven router stations allow DrumMaker to offer nearly any imaginable bearing edge design/profile.

Bill has likely forgotten more about the art of drum building that most of us will ever come to know. He passed the torch along to Rob Kampa, sharing his drum makings secrets and techniques during an in-depth crash course visit to his shop in 2005. Rob has combined this old school art of handcrafting and attention to detail with the his own cutting edge and scientific methods to offer DrumMaker builders the best of all worlds.

Keller VSS Maple

6ply Tom Shells

thickness .166" or 4mm or 5/32"

*NOTE: Double cut edges are not available on thin 6ply shells.Only Edge #1 - Single 45 can be cut on such a thin shell wall.